February 28, 2013

Labyrinth scarf, lost and found

Stitches West took place just a week ago, and like most years, I was able to make the pilgrimage to Santa Clara, a short hour South of my home, in order to catch up with good friends, inspect the goods at the giant market and take classes from outstanding instructors.

During my three days there I took just two classes, one with Lily Chin on knitting -- and designing -- on the bias, and one with Chris Bylsma called "Stashology 101". In recent years, that is how I have built my schedule at Stitches West, mixing technique and "just play." Keeping the course-load on the light side also gave me plenty of time to just sit and knit out in the hotel patio and watch the non-stop parade of lace shawls and vests and ponchos and scarves, which is a huge part of the fun and uniqueness of Stitches.

Unfortunately, my knitting in public took a sad turn as I managed to misplace one of my projects at some point. Was it in the hotel restaurant on Thursday? On my way to class on Friday morning? I haven't figured it out yet, but all I know is this. The WIP in question was a scarf based on a vintage pattern from Vogue Knitting, worked out in a gorgeous shade of pale blue, solid Koigu. I had started the scarf last Spring and only worked on it sporadically, but the end was getting closer and three whole skeins had already been consumed into at least 3 feet of 2/2 ribbing on my favorite #4 Addi lace needle.

After various failed excursions to every Lost-and-Found department I could think of, I gave up the search and drove home, where a quick communion with the stash revealed four skeins of more Koigu solid yarn, this time in a pretty pale pink colorway. Was the universe telling me that I had plenty of yarn at home already and didn't need to look for more? In this case, the universe would be right. I even found another needle just like the one I had lost. Sometimes, all you need is stash.

Comments

It's a beauty in pink but what heartbreak to lose the other! The knitter who found it will no doubt try to find the rightful owner, as any real knitter would want done in a similar circumstance. I hold hope you get it back.